Designer Foods, Dietary Supplements, for Better Cardiovascular Health

Abstract

Metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, excess weight, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and vascular diseases, have increased in the both incidence and prevalence, to epidemic proportions worldwide, in the last three decades. During this period, obesity has increased by two-folds, and diabetes by four folds. Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killers and have retained this position for over 100 years. No country has reduced, reversed, or prevented the increase in the incidence of these diseases. Modern medicine has failed, to prevent the increase of these chronic diseases and has instead, opted for drug discovery and management of such risks.These diseases are basically lifestyle diseases. In view of this fact, we would like to encourage holistic lifestyle, emphasize the need for robust physical activity, wellness, and heart healthy diet. In an earlier article, we discussed changing concepts of healthcare, which includes, heavy emphasis on physical fitness and wellness. In this article, we would discuss heart healthy diet, designer foods, dietary supplements, and complementary therapies for reduction, reversal, and prevention of metabolic risks, such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, altered blood flow, endothelial dysfunction, and subclinical atherosclerosis. Examples of designer foods include, designer eggs, with enhanced omega-3 fatty acids, improved variety of staple grains, such as white rice, wheat, and corn. Improved animal diet, for the development of high-quality tissues. We have discussed the importance of genomic studies of animals and plants, for selective breeding and genetic engineering. Use of stem cells for synthetic meat. Since we are interested in the early interventions of metabolic risks, as a major strategy for prevention of CVDs, we also discussed development of dietary supplements and complementary therapies, using indigenous phytochemicals. Since the basic cause for developing metabolic risks is altered lifestyle, we emphasize the importance of healthy life style including physical fitness, heart healthy diet and wellness.